Updated November 24, 2023
Are you looking for zoo animal crafts for kids?
We are sharing 10 adorable zoo animal crafts that your kids will love!
I’ve added tips and ideas for adapting these crafts to toddlers and younger preschoolers.
These projects are made with simple supplies most of which can be purchased at Dollar stores or your cal Walmart.
I like to get my colored cardstock on Amazon, but it is usually easy to find locally too.
10 Zoo Animal Crafts for Kids
Kids love animal crafts in general. But while garden-variety animal crafts are fun, animals that are a little more rare can be even more fun. These 10 zoo animal crafts for kids will let them explore a number of crafts for animals they don’t see every day.
Paper Roll Monkey Craft by Arty Crafty Kids
Toilet paper rolls are really great craft materials already.
But this monkey template is so cute and makes some really amazing crafts.
Why do we love it?
This paper roll monkey craft is a great activity for kids, giving them lots of opportunities to practice fine motor skills through tracing, cutting, and sticking.
It’s perfect for animal or jungle-themed projects and lesson plans or if you are looking for dad and toddler activities!
For toddlers, simplify the craft with pre-cut shapes and larger materials for easy handling.
3D Paper Lion Craft by Mommy Made That
This 3D paper lion craft is absolutely adorable.
And kids will love the fact that it can stand up on its own!
The paper lion craft featured on “Mommy Made That” is a charming and engaging activity for children.
What makes this craft particularly appealing is its 3D design, allowing the lion to stand on its own, which adds an extra layer of fun and creativity to the project.
For younger preschoolers you can print out the included template and have them glue the lion pieces to a toilet paper roll to make it easier for them to create the 3-D effect.
Animal Popsicle Puppets by Bilingual Beginnings
This post’s author offers many ideas for sourcing animals for these puppets.
So kids will be able to find their favorites.
The Animal Popsicle Puppets activity, suitable for toddlers and preschoolers, is a wonderful DIY project encouraging creativity, imagination, and communication.
These puppets can be made using various household materials like old magazines, drawn and cut out animals, or even animal printables found online.
Popsicle sticks are essential for holding up the paper puppets.
This craft can also be turned into an educational activity.
For instance, while playing with these puppets, children can learn about different animal features, colors, and sounds.
Elephant Paper Plate Craft by Mom. Wife. Busy Life.
Right here is something nice and simple for anyone who wants to make an easy craft.
This elephant could make a great mask once finished as well.
The Elephant Paper Plate Craft is a fantastic and engaging activity for kids, especially suitable for lessons or studies about elephants, jungles, safaris, or African animals.
Easy Cardboard Animal Toys by Red Ted Art
These cardboard animals have a very throwback feel to them.
Once all the pieces are cut out, they are easy for kids to put together.
The Easy Cardboard Animal Toys project on Red Ted Art is a fantastic DIY activity for children, promoting creativity and environmental awareness.
This craft teaches children to recycle in inventive ways, turning something mundane into interactive and fun animal toys.
I love that these are made out of common household recyclables.
For my younger kids, I cut out the animals and showed them how to put them together for an excellent fine motor activity.
Toilet Paper Roll Giraffe Craft by Taming Little Monsters
This toilet paper roll giraffe takes toilet paper crafts to the next level.
It takes multiple rolls and a box, but the end result is well above anything else kids may have made in the past.
I would do this craft together with your toddler or preschooler.
They will need help assembling all the pieces once they have painted the giraffe design on yellow craft paper.
It fosters creativity by allowing children to personalize their giraffes, enhances planning and organizational skills through its step-by-step process, provides a fun way to learn about giraffe biology, and develops fine motor skills essential for writing and daily tasks.
Zoo Animal Finger Puppets by In the Playroom
The Zoo Animal Finger Puppets project from the “Now I Can Sew” book is a charming and creative activity for kids, allowing them to make a variety of animal puppets like monkeys, lions, and elephants.
To adapt this craft for toddlers and preschoolers, I would suggest simplifying the process. Instead of using embroidery floss and needles, which can be challenging for little hands, opt for child-safe glue to assemble the felt pieces.
You can also pre-cut the felt shapes or use larger, simpler pieces that are easier for small fingers to handle.
Using bold, primary colors can make the activity more visually engaging for younger children.
This way, your toddlers and preschoolers can enjoy making their own finger puppets while practicing their fine motor skills and creativity in a safe, age-appropriate way.
Blow Paint Lion Craft by Kids Craft Room
This lion is another paper plate craft but with a twist.
The lion’s mane is blow-painted for a really unique look.
The Blow Paint Lion Craft is a colorful and fun activity that’s simple enough for toddlers and preschoolers to enjoy.
This craft creates a beautiful effect of merged colors and shapes, making it a great hands-on project for young children.
For parents looking to adapt this craft for younger kids, consider using thicker, washable paints that are easier for little hands to handle.
You might also opt for shorter straws to make it easier for them to control the blowing.
Supervision is key to ensure they blow and not suck on the straws.
The free printable lion template provided simplifies the process, making it an enjoyable and safe crafting experience for toddlers and preschoolers
Pom Pom Panda Craft by Two Kids and a Coupon
Kids love crafts they can play with, and this panda is a perfect example.
Made out of pom poms, it’s easy to make and a really adorable toy.
I find younger preschoolers and toddlers do well with craft projects like this.
Use larger pom poms for younger crafts will go along way to alleviating any frustration with this zoo animal craft.
Zoo Animals Crafts by Mama of Minis
These zoo animal crafts for kids are really simple.
Not having a template frees up room for creativity while the method used to make them still keeps it uncomplicated.
I recently explored zoo animal crafts for kids on the Mama of Minis website, which are perfect for a zoo-themed week or after a fun trip to the zoo.
These crafts include creating animals like lions, elephants, giraffes, and zebras, and require simple materials like construction paper, scissors, glue, and a black marker.
When I do crafts with my toddlers and preschoolers, I like to allow them to practice their cutting skills by cutting out the pieces for crafts but you can prepare the pieces in advance also.
I ado ssist or instruct my little ones on where to cut and glue the pieces and help them draw the eyes and mouth.
This method makes the crafting enjoyable and achievable for their skill level.
Here’s a list of books about zoo animals that are perfect for toddlers and preschoolers:
- “Dear Zoo” by Rod Campbell: A classic lift-the-flap book where children guess which animal will appear next.
- “Good Night, Gorilla” by Peggy Rathmann: A fun bedtime story featuring a mischievous gorilla in a zoo.
- “Giraffes Can’t Dance” by Giles Andreae and Guy Parker-Rees: A heartwarming tale about a giraffe who learns to dance in his own way.
- “If I Ran the Zoo” by Dr. Seuss: A whimsical story exploring the imaginative animals a child would have in his own zoo.
- “Put Me in the Zoo” by Robert Lopshire: A story about a unique animal who wants to be in a zoo.
- “The View at the Zoo” by Kathleen Long Bostrom and Guy Francis: Offers a fun perspective on what animals might think of the people who visit them.
- “1, 2, 3 to the Zoo” by Eric Carle: A beautifully illustrated counting book featuring animals in a zoo.
- “Curious George Visits the Zoo” by Margret Rey and H.A. Rey: Follows the adventures of the beloved monkey, Curious George, during his exciting zoo visit.
Dos and Don’ts for Zoo Animals Crafts for Toddlers and Preschoolers
Do’s:
- Encourage Creativity: Let kids use their imagination to add personal touches to their crafts.
- Choose Age-Appropriate Projects: Ensure the craft matches the child’s age and skill level.
- Use Safe Materials: Always use non-toxic, child-safe materials.
- Incorporate Learning: Use the opportunity to teach about different animals, their habitats, and behaviors.
- Be Patient: Allow children to work at their own pace and make mistakes.
- Provide Assistance: Offer help with difficult parts, but let the kids do as much as they can.
Don’ts:
- Avoid Small Parts for Young Kids: For safety, don’t use small pieces that could be choking hazards for younger children.
- Don’t Rush Them: Let kids take their time to enjoy the crafting process.
- Don’t Ignore Instructions: While creativity is encouraged, some guidance is necessary for the craft to be recognizable.
- Don’t Overwhelm with Choices: Too many options can be overwhelming; provide a manageable selection of materials.
- Avoid Toxic Materials: Steer clear of materials that could be harmful if ingested or inhaled.
- Don’t Expect Perfection: Remember, the goal is to have fun and learn, not to create a perfect replica of an animal.
